Jeremiah 9:24 "but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me..."
God tells his people to not boast about their wisdom, strength, or riches. He was about to take everything away from them anyway. He tells them instead to boast only if they understand and know him.
When do I boast about knowing God? It's not enough. I boast about a lot of things but God doesn't make the list too often. Or when he does make the list, it's because it's my job. I should make it my goal to specifically boast about the Lord once a day to someone. Who can it be today?
Dear Jesus, remind me to boast of you often. Amen.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Call
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Jeremiah is a prophet to Judah and in chapter one his call to ministry is described. It is a beautiful call! God claims that before Jeremiah was even created, he had plans for him.
I assume the same story is true for every human who has ever been born. Although we don't have the same specific call Jeremiah did, God still knew us and had a plan for us. What is my exact call? Have I listened to God's voice? He certainly was thinking about me and my call; have I been thinking about him? I believe my call is to be the most Christ-like husband and father I can be, and to share the good news of Jesus with students. And it's an awesome call! If only I can live it each day!
Dear Jesus, thank you for knowing me and calling me. Help me to respond. Amen.
Jeremiah is a prophet to Judah and in chapter one his call to ministry is described. It is a beautiful call! God claims that before Jeremiah was even created, he had plans for him.
I assume the same story is true for every human who has ever been born. Although we don't have the same specific call Jeremiah did, God still knew us and had a plan for us. What is my exact call? Have I listened to God's voice? He certainly was thinking about me and my call; have I been thinking about him? I believe my call is to be the most Christ-like husband and father I can be, and to share the good news of Jesus with students. And it's an awesome call! If only I can live it each day!
Dear Jesus, thank you for knowing me and calling me. Help me to respond. Amen.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Isaiah 53
Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Isaiah is describing the "suffering servant" who would come and save the world from their sins. He would be pierced, crushed and punished for our sake. And it is through his wounds and scars we would be forgiven, healed, and restored. These are some truly beautiful words!
I'll be honest, much of Isaiah elicits very little emotional response from me. But chapter 53 takes my breath away. My savior, the messiah, hung on a cross and died for my sins. His pain and death were for me. It's almost too much to comprehend. What do I do in repsonse to this? Accept it. Believe it. Praise him for it. Tell someone else. This is good news!
Dear Jesus, thank you for Isaiah 53. That is all. Amen.
Isaiah is describing the "suffering servant" who would come and save the world from their sins. He would be pierced, crushed and punished for our sake. And it is through his wounds and scars we would be forgiven, healed, and restored. These are some truly beautiful words!
I'll be honest, much of Isaiah elicits very little emotional response from me. But chapter 53 takes my breath away. My savior, the messiah, hung on a cross and died for my sins. His pain and death were for me. It's almost too much to comprehend. What do I do in repsonse to this? Accept it. Believe it. Praise him for it. Tell someone else. This is good news!
Dear Jesus, thank you for Isaiah 53. That is all. Amen.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Engraved Palms
Isaiah 49:16 "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."
In the midst of exile, it would be easy for Israel to ask if God had forgotten them. God points out that there is no way that he will forget them. Just as a mother can never forget her children, God cannot forget his children. He tells them that he has gone so far as to engrave them (their names) on the palms of his hands-symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved on the ephod the high priest would wear.
I am God's child and he will not forget me. I will forget him, but he cannot and will not forget me. In the midst of my exiles, wanderings, and doubt, God will not forget about me or leave me. How awesome! I am so thankful today for a God who loves me even though he knows every bit of me, and does not forget me even though he has every right to.
Dear Jesus, thank you for knowing me, loving me, and never forgetting my name. Amen.
In the midst of exile, it would be easy for Israel to ask if God had forgotten them. God points out that there is no way that he will forget them. Just as a mother can never forget her children, God cannot forget his children. He tells them that he has gone so far as to engrave them (their names) on the palms of his hands-symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved on the ephod the high priest would wear.
I am God's child and he will not forget me. I will forget him, but he cannot and will not forget me. In the midst of my exiles, wanderings, and doubt, God will not forget about me or leave me. How awesome! I am so thankful today for a God who loves me even though he knows every bit of me, and does not forget me even though he has every right to.
Dear Jesus, thank you for knowing me, loving me, and never forgetting my name. Amen.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Right Handed Lies
Isaiah 44:20 "He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, 'Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?'"
In chapter 44, verses 9-20, Isaiah cleverly describes the silliness of creating and bowing down to false idols made of wood and stone. He points out how from one piece of wood a carpenter could create an idol and build a fire! The same material is burned in a fire and also worship by man-how ridiculous! In verse twenty Isaiah states, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
How many lies do I hold in my hands each day...these items made of wood and stone that most certainly would burn in a fire? Yet these are the things I worship! These are the things I spend my money and time on. These are the things that capture my heart. And I forget that they are perishable. And worse than that they are lies. They cannot save or redeem or heal. I need to refocus my life on the one true God that does not burn in a fire. He is the consuming fire.
Dear Jesus, show me what idols I need to toss in the fire. Amen.
In chapter 44, verses 9-20, Isaiah cleverly describes the silliness of creating and bowing down to false idols made of wood and stone. He points out how from one piece of wood a carpenter could create an idol and build a fire! The same material is burned in a fire and also worship by man-how ridiculous! In verse twenty Isaiah states, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
How many lies do I hold in my hands each day...these items made of wood and stone that most certainly would burn in a fire? Yet these are the things I worship! These are the things I spend my money and time on. These are the things that capture my heart. And I forget that they are perishable. And worse than that they are lies. They cannot save or redeem or heal. I need to refocus my life on the one true God that does not burn in a fire. He is the consuming fire.
Dear Jesus, show me what idols I need to toss in the fire. Amen.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Level
Isaiah 40:4 "Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain."
Isaiah is sharing a vision of future comfort for God's people, and a sneak peek at the future kingdom of God under the lordship of the coming messiah. He claims that one day the mountains will be leveled and the rough ground will become smooth and even.
During this election season there is much talk of the 99 percenters and 1 percenters, the have's and the have nots, the wealthy and the middle class. Certainly there is a lot in this world that is not fair. The ground is not level for all and inequality does exist. But one day it will. And my job now is to help usher that "one day" in. Through prayer, faith and hard work, I am to join Jesus in helping bring "kingdom come" here and now where everyone is valued, loved and cared for. How can I do that today? How can I make the ground a bit more level for others today?
Dear Jesus, help me build your kingdom here and now. Amen.
Isaiah is sharing a vision of future comfort for God's people, and a sneak peek at the future kingdom of God under the lordship of the coming messiah. He claims that one day the mountains will be leveled and the rough ground will become smooth and even.
During this election season there is much talk of the 99 percenters and 1 percenters, the have's and the have nots, the wealthy and the middle class. Certainly there is a lot in this world that is not fair. The ground is not level for all and inequality does exist. But one day it will. And my job now is to help usher that "one day" in. Through prayer, faith and hard work, I am to join Jesus in helping bring "kingdom come" here and now where everyone is valued, loved and cared for. How can I do that today? How can I make the ground a bit more level for others today?
Dear Jesus, help me build your kingdom here and now. Amen.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Me, Myself and I
Isaiah 39:8 "'The word of the Lord you have spoken is good.' Hezekiah replied. For he thought, 'There will be peace and security in my lifetime.'"
Isaiah has just told Hezekiah that eventually all of the king's treasures including many of his descendants would one day be carted off to Babylon. Hezekiah is relieved and claims that this prophecy is good, so long as things are peaceful during his lifetime! How selfish and shortsighted! It seems he could care less about anyone that comes after him!
God does not want me to revolve around me. He wants me to revolve around him and others. If things are going OK in my life, great. If they are not going OK, great. Whether good or bad, sick or well, rich or poor, it ain't about me. It's about God and others. Hezekiah forgot that. I hope I don't.
Dear Jesus, help me look past myself and my circumstances today to greater things. Amen.
Isaiah has just told Hezekiah that eventually all of the king's treasures including many of his descendants would one day be carted off to Babylon. Hezekiah is relieved and claims that this prophecy is good, so long as things are peaceful during his lifetime! How selfish and shortsighted! It seems he could care less about anyone that comes after him!
God does not want me to revolve around me. He wants me to revolve around him and others. If things are going OK in my life, great. If they are not going OK, great. Whether good or bad, sick or well, rich or poor, it ain't about me. It's about God and others. Hezekiah forgot that. I hope I don't.
Dear Jesus, help me look past myself and my circumstances today to greater things. Amen.
Friday, September 07, 2012
Our King
Isaiah 33:22 "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us."
Isaiah addresses Assyria in chapter 33 and tells the nation that as far as Israel is concerned, God is their judge, lawgiver, and king. It is God alone who will save them. Isaiah describes a contrast between the kingdoms of the world ruled by kings, violence, and power, and the kingdom of God in which he alone rules.
God is to be my judge, my lawgiver and my king. Too often in my life, I place other people in those roles. I need to daily realize that this is God's show and he is the one and only ruler in my life. How can I allow him to be my ruler today?
Dear Jesus, please rule and reign in my life today. Amen.
Isaiah addresses Assyria in chapter 33 and tells the nation that as far as Israel is concerned, God is their judge, lawgiver, and king. It is God alone who will save them. Isaiah describes a contrast between the kingdoms of the world ruled by kings, violence, and power, and the kingdom of God in which he alone rules.
God is to be my judge, my lawgiver and my king. Too often in my life, I place other people in those roles. I need to daily realize that this is God's show and he is the one and only ruler in my life. How can I allow him to be my ruler today?
Dear Jesus, please rule and reign in my life today. Amen.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Fraud
Isaiah 29:13 "The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.'"
Isaiah is sharing a warning for the people of Jerusalem-God's people. He says many of them honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far away from God.
It's so easy to let worship become routine. It's too easy to allow prayer to become a ritual. God wants us to do the right things with our eyes, our ears, and our lips, but mostly he wants our hearts. He doesn't want empty words and worship from me. How often I am real and authentic with Jesus? Are my words empty? Is my heart right? Today I need to make my lips match my heart and be real.
Dear Jesus, help me not be a fraud today. Amen.
Isaiah is sharing a warning for the people of Jerusalem-God's people. He says many of them honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far away from God.
It's so easy to let worship become routine. It's too easy to allow prayer to become a ritual. God wants us to do the right things with our eyes, our ears, and our lips, but mostly he wants our hearts. He doesn't want empty words and worship from me. How often I am real and authentic with Jesus? Are my words empty? Is my heart right? Today I need to make my lips match my heart and be real.
Dear Jesus, help me not be a fraud today. Amen.
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Your Dead Will Live
Isaiah 26:19 "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise..."
In the midst of so much judgement and pain, Isaiah offers a dose of hope for God's people. He claims that the dead will not stay dead. They will rise and live!
This is the promise of Jesus. He conquered death and so will we! I hate thinking about death. Most people do. But it really shouldn't bother me. I belong to Jesus and although I will die, I will rise right away and live forever! Am I sharing that story with others? Who in my life needs to hear the life giving message of Jesus today?
Dear Jesus, help me not keep this great news just to myself. Amen.
In the midst of so much judgement and pain, Isaiah offers a dose of hope for God's people. He claims that the dead will not stay dead. They will rise and live!
This is the promise of Jesus. He conquered death and so will we! I hate thinking about death. Most people do. But it really shouldn't bother me. I belong to Jesus and although I will die, I will rise right away and live forever! Am I sharing that story with others? Who in my life needs to hear the life giving message of Jesus today?
Dear Jesus, help me not keep this great news just to myself. Amen.
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